How Many Ways Can I Fritter Away the Day?

1. Stare at a blank screen and NOT write because I think everything I write has to be perfect, groundbreaking or insightful.
2. Get a drink of water.
3. Do a load of laundry.
4. Open the refrigerator.
5. Close the refrigerator.
6. Google my name.
7. Google someone else’s name.
8. Watch a YouTube Video.
9. Make a cup of tea.
10. Make a new to-do list.
11. Spend too much time on Twitter.
12. Get tired of Twitter and head over to Facebook.
13. Text message a few friends.
14. Organize my email inbox.
15. Vacuum the carpet in my office.
16. Watch a Hulu “sick day collection” episode.
17. Cook lunch and linger too long at the kitchen table chatting with my husband.
18. Peruse the iTunes store.
19. Read too many blogs.
20. Make a pot of coffee.
21. Pop a pot of popcorn.
22. Balance my checkbook.
23. Stare at a blank screen and NOT write because I think I have nothing to say worth reading.
24. Open the refrigerator again to see if anything new has magically appeared.
25. Feel disappointed.
26. Close the refrigerator again.
27. Add some things to my to-do list that I’ve already done so I can cross them off.
28. Go to the post office.
29. Stop at the store.
30. Rearrange my bookshelf.
31. Take a reading break – one that lasts four hours.
32. Stare at my vision board.
33. Skype a friend.
34. Rearrange the icons on my desktop.
35. Shred some junk mail.
36. Get a glass of water.
37. Wash the dishes.
38. While I am in the kitchen get a snack.
39. Check the thermostat.
40. Adjust the temperature.
41. Open the front door and stare at all the snow.
42. Throw some old bread and crackers out for the birds.
43. Watch a Murder She Wrote episode on DVD.
44. Make another cup of tea.
45. Make some notes.
46. Peruse Amazon.com.
47. Check to see if my Kindle needs to be charged.
48. Shuffle my journals and piles of notes.
49. Clean my glasses.
50. Stare out the window.
51. Check my email.
52. Send some Tweets.
53. Read a few more blogs.

And, then before I realize it the day is over.

After a few days like this I begin to panic.

But, then something magical happens.

I feel refreshed. Invigorated. Creative. Excited.

I love to write again.

I don’t care if every word is perfect, groundbreaking or insightful. I have things to say and I think they are important. I think people may just like what I write.

The words don’t always flow easily and sometimes I still stare at a blank screen, but it now represents opportunity, not failure.

Then writing leads to other fun things, like outlining a new workshop, hacking some code, solving a problem or creating a new art journal piece or a short video.

Yes, sometimes I fritter away the day, but I am coming to realize that frittering away my day sometimes is the best way to feel creative and motivated again.

So, next time I feel a little antsy I am going to give myself a break and fritter away.